Elisabeth Caumont

Élisabeth Caumont follows in the tradition of French jazz singers. Born in Cambrai on November 25, 1957, she studied singing at the Perpignan conservatory, then moved to Paris in 1975, where she took drama classes. She performed in the capital's jazz clubs and formed her own group, which appeared at the Marciac and Nice festivals in 1985. A mix of jazz and chanson, her repertoire includes both standards and original compositions. Singing for artists such as Michel Legrand, Michel Petrucciani and the group Sixun, she recorded her first homonymous album for the Carlyne Music label in 1986, where, surrounded by musicians such as Éric Le Lann, Louis Winsberg, Stéphane Huchard and Alain Debiossat, she sang "Le Funk du bègue" and a tribute to Donna Lee on a theme by Charlie Parker. In 1989, her Act 2 for Vogue included "La Vraie chanteuse de jazz" among adaptations of themes and a Chet Baker souvenir. The following year saw Élisabeth Caumont compose a duet with pianist Jimmy Rowles on Dix Chansons d'Amour, mostly standards, featuring Stacy Rowles and Aldo Romano. A rare contrarian jazz performer of the era, she reunited with her musicians on Ciao Mon Cœur (1993) and Mieux Qu'Un Baiser (1997), followed by Préliminaires (2004) and Princess Micomiconne (2009). Honored with the title of Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2006, Élisabeth Caumont presented the Jazz Academy's Django d'or awards the following year.